Queen Camilla becomes the new Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance
Today, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) welcomes Queen Camilla as its new Patron.
Darcey Bussell, President of the RAD, said:
This is just wonderful news. HM Queen Camilla has been such an engaged supporter of the RAD for many years. Her patronage will make such a difference to the members of the RAD and she will help encourage all generations to benefit from the many attributes dance.
Queen Camilla has been Vice-Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance since 2020, serving alongside the late Queen Elizabeth II who was Patron of the organisation from 1953 until her death in 2022.
As Vice-Patron she has performed numerous duties – formally opening the RAD’s HQ in 2022 and awarding the RAD’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award to Mikhail Baryshnikov at a special presentation at Buckingham Palace the same year.
Over the years, Queen Camilla has been a supporter of RAD’s Silver Swans dance programme, a programme designed and developed for learners over the age of 55 with an interest in dance.
In her new role as patron, Queen Camilla will continue to serve as an inspiring figure and supporter of the RAD and wider world of dance.
RAD’s Chief Executive, Tim Arthur, said:
On behalf of the RAD, I am truly delighted that Queen Camilla is our new Patron. Previously our Vice-Patron, Queen Camilla has been so supportive of our organisation, championing our programmes including Silver Swans, which is designed to encourage older people to dance.
The RAD has a long, positive history and relationship with The Royal Family. It was the late Queen Elizabeth II’s grandmother, Queen Mary, who was interested in dance – ballet in particular. With an approach from our Founding President Dame Adeline Genée, Queen Mary became our First Royal Patron in 1928. We are truly thankful for The Royal Family’s ongoing patronage of our organisation and look forward to welcoming Queen Camilla as our official Patron.
The Royal Academy of Dance
The RAD started life in 1920 as the Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing in Great Britain. It was born out of a meeting of leading dance professionals arranged by Philip Richardson, former editor of the Dancing Times. With Dame Adeline Genée chosen from among her peers as its first President, the Association launched its first syllabus in the same year and held its first exams in 1921.
Queen Mary became the Association’s first patron in 1928 and in 1936 it became the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) after receiving its Royal Charter from King George V. The following year, the RAD was awarded its coat of arms by the College of Arms.
Fast forward to present day, the RAD is an international, world-leading dance and training organisation where around 250,000 students across the world take RAD exams every year. The RAD has a strong global membership in 85 countries and has offices in 36 countries around the world, with its HQ in London.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
